“Teacher Is Not What YOU DO, but Who You Are”

BEVERLY ROGERS Chairman of the Board, The Rogers Foundation

We have great teachers living right here in our community. These include educators who go above and beyond to put kids first and not only teach, but also inspire. They work tirelessly and never ask for recognition. As Beverly Rogers has eloquently said, “Teacher is not what you do, but what you are.” They are unsung heroes and deserve to hear more thanks from the people of Clark County.

A teacher awards program hosted at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts is credited with helping to retain and recruit great teachers in Washington, D.C., which has inspired The Smith Center to offer such recognition in our own community. Thanks to financial support from The Rogers Foundation and the help of the public, The Smith Center is pleased to offer a grand celebration for educators here in Las Vegas: The Heart of Education Awards.

The inaugural event in 2016 saw tremendous community support, which The Smith Center hopes to build upon. A great education starts with great educators, and we are proud to point our spotlight in their direction.

This year’s Heart of Education Awards will honor hundreds of CCSD teachers with an invitation-only event at The Smith Center, where 20 teachers will be selected to receive awards. The prestigious evening will feature a red carpet, swag bags for all of our invited teachers, and spectacular entertainment.

Myron Martin
President and CEO,
The Smith Center for the Performing Arts

1. Nominate A Teacher

Do you know a local CCSD teacher who stands above the rest? A teacher who goes above and beyond to put students first? Beginning October 1, nominate an outstanding teacher for the Heart of Education Awards. Nominations will be accepted through January 18. As a nominator, please be prepared to provide:

- Your personal information

- Teacher’s name / school

- Teacher’s CCSD email address

- A 200-word-or-less recommendation

2. Teachers Submit
Applications

Once a nomination has been submitted, each nominated teacher will receive an email notification to complete a separate online application. Teachers will be asked to write a 500-word-or-less essay describing how they have gone above and beyond to support their students. Teachers may log into the system, save a draft of their application and return at a later date to complete and submit.

3. Finalists Announced

After the application process has closed, a panel of judges — including community leaders, education experts and event sponsors — will narrow down the field to the finalists. These finalists will be notified and invited to the Heart of Education Awards celebration event, to be held at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts. See the Finalists

4. The Heart Of Education
Awards Event

On Friday, April 26, all of the finalists and their guests will enjoy a red-carpet arrival, an evening of dazzling performances and a sponsor-filled swag bag at the event. The evening will also include the announcement of the top 20 award winners, each of whom will receive a cash gift of $5,000 and a trophy. Each winner’s school will also receive a $1,000 donation benefiting a program of the winner’s choice.

“The Heart of Education Awards has
brought thousands of teachers to school this fall with their heads held higher”

Lynne Gronert, Heart Of Education Award Winner

The Heart Of Education FAQs

Why did The Smith Center launch this program?

The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, along with The Rogers Foundation, launched The Heart of Education Awards with the goal of honoring, recruiting and retaining great educators in Southern Nevada.

How are the awards affiliated with the Clark County School District (CCSD)?

The Heart of Education Awards are supported by the CCSD, but unlike district-run initiatives, this program is managed by a group of community leaders who believe that our teachers should be recognized for their fine work.

Who can nominate a teacher?

A nomination can come from a student, alumnus, parent, colleague, PTA member, community leader or anyone who is not related to the teacher and who knows his/her work. In order to complete the nomination form, a nominator should be prepared with the teacher’s name, school and CCSD email address (ex: wxyz@nv.ccsd.net), as well as reasons for the nomination. This includes ways the teacher has gone above and beyond to support students.

Are there any fees with the nomination/application process?

No. It is free to nominate a teacher and for teachers to apply for The Heart of Education Awards.

Where do I go to submit a nomination?

How do I nominate a teacher?

The nominator must submit their nomination online by completing the Nomination form. After submission of the nomination your teacher will be notified via email of your nomination. The teacher will be supplied with a link to follow in order to complete the online application and submit it.

When is the deadline to nominate a teacher?

The deadline to submit a nomination is Friday, January 18, 2019. Please note that the nomination form and the teacher application must be received by Friday, January 25, 2019 so get your nominations in early so that your teacher has sufficient time to submit their application.

How does a teacher complete an application?

The nominated teacher will receive an email advising them that they have been nominated. An electronic link will be supplied in the email which takes the teacher to the portal where they will complete the online application.

When is the deadline for teacher applications?

The deadline for teacher application submission is Friday, January 25, 2019.

What is the decision-making process and criteria for selection?

Qualified applications will be judged by community leaders, education experts and sponsors. Winning teachers will be chosen based on the quality of their applications, their recommendation letters, and their compelling stories.

When will finalists be notified?

Finalists will be notified in the spring of 2019. The number of Finalists is dependent upon the number of qualified applicants and will not exceed 850. The top 20 winners will be announced at The Heart of Education Awards ceremony on Friday April 26, 2019.

Who is eligible to win a Heart of Education award?

To be eligible, teachers must have current, full-time position at CCSD and be in good standing, and have completed at least three consecutive school years of teaching experience with the district. Teachers in after-school, private schools or studios, or other educational settings are not eligible at this time. Substitute teachers are not eligible.

When is The Heart of Education Awards ceremony?

The Heart of Education Awards will be presented during a gala event at The Smith Center on Friday April 26, 2019. This festive, invitation-only awards show will include a red-carpet arrival, swag bags for teachers and a selection of high-quality entertainment.

Can I apply for this award every year?

Yes, but past cash award winners are not eligible for three years after the year they received the award.

What do finalists and winners receive?

Finalists will be included in a souvenir booklet, to be distributed at the Heart of Education Awards. They will also receive a printed certificate honoring them as a Heart of Education finalist, and two tickets to the gala event. The top 20 winners selected by the judges will each receive a custom trophy and a cash gift of $5,000. Each winner’s school will also receive a cash gift of $1,000 to be used for a program selected by the winning teacher.

How else can I get involved?

This is a community wide celebration for educators, and everyone who believes in the value of a great public education should participate. The Heart of Education Awards is not funded by CCSD and we encourage your participation. To find out more about the various sponsorship opportunities and to pledge your support, please send an email to heartofeducation@thesmithcenter.com